I said it before, The Window is my new fave Vancity gift shop.   But I haven't shared photos yet.  So here they are.  They have everything: soaps, snacks, candy, textiles, ceramics, jewelry, art, and the list goes on.  AND it's all locally made.  I bought a few things during my last visit including a couple of their in-house made aprons as wedding gifts, one cotton and one linen (The linen ones are so gorgeous I wouldn't be surprised if my friend wore it as a dress - lol). 

Janna

www.thewindowartshop.com

Jane Richmond designs are beautifully simple, elegant and classic.  This new book, with five gorgeous new patterns from her, looks like something to cherish.  I love the slow pace of the video which I think is meant to reflect on the steady, slow life-style of islanders.  It's hard not to slow down when your surrounded by beautiful forests and the vast ocean.  I do really miss these things.  When I visited from Montreal in August I didn't go into the forest until the last week of being there, and my husband took the words right out of my mouth, "why didn't we do this sooner?"

So, loving the looks of this book.  Loving that it's new Jane, loving that it features lovely naturific photos between the design photos. 

Jane offered a limited amount of copies at Knit City.  Did any of you get your hands on one?  Sadly I wasn't in Vancouver that weekend.  Fail.

Janna

Not too long ago I visted Wool Is Not Enough in Gastown and was pleasantly surprised at its size.  Shoshanna's been calling it 'wee' all this time, but it's definitely not lacking on the selection front.  They even have quiviut, which you may know is my favourite fibre!  I've already began wearing my quiviut hat this season.  It's so nice on cold mornings.

I left WINE with a beautiful hank of Malabrigo Rasta which I'm pretty sure I'll be making these mittens with.

Also, FYI there is a great write up on WINE here on the Fraser Valley Knitting Guild website.  The FVKG has visited and blogged about nearly all the yarn shops in the lower mainland (I think their post on WINE is the only one sans photos), so if you're ever curious about the local LYS selection check out their reviews.

When I visited Maiwa one of the staff members shared that employees there are taught how to use natural dyes and that they now sell the the lovely yarns that result from the dye parties they have.  I'm especially loving the indigo, which I suspect is dyed using the organic natural vat that they've been experimenting with.  Yay for natural dyed, yay for Vancouver made!